As I predicted, the student chose Course #2. In many regards, it wasn't much of a choice: fail and possibly be locked out of higher education or suck it up, own it, learn and redux. I hope that although it wasn't much of a choice that it will be a life-altering "teachable moment" for this student.
I told this student that he reminded me a lot of myself and that I was giving him this opportunity to correct his behavior and to learn something about what he'd done. I hoped that he would embrace this opportunity and take some agency in his education. He isn't going to get anywhere by taking the path of least resistance. I heard a wise man once say that, "Water and men both take the path of least resistance. That is why you have crooked rivers and crooked men." I encouraged this student to embrace doing the heavy lifting of getting and education and to stop looking at what is happening as a credentialing service. I told him if he can do that then he will get something out of it. If he can't change his view on it, then maybe he should be doing something different with his time.Only time will tell if he got the message and if he'll learn something from his mistake.
I am so glad there are educators out there like you! What a great approach to handling this problem. It's always best to give the students a choice so that they own their mistakes. I used to teach in the public school system, and I couldn't believe how many of my students plagiarized their papers. I guess they think we aren't smart enough to use the Internet :)
ReplyDeleteYou deserve a tremendous amount of respect as an instructor. Thank you for doing what you do, and believing in your students enough to give them second chances.
ReplyDeleteAs a future educator, I will always remember this story. I hope that I can be as wise and sympathetic as you were in this situation.